Sources say India to start random testing for international passengers across all airports

India: Amid an unabated rise in Covid cases in China, the Indian government is re-introducing Covid-19 testing-related measures at airports for international travellers, sources said. 

Following the Indian Union Health Ministry’s top-level meet to review the current Covid-19 situation in India, people familiar with the developments have been informed that the Indian government has directed to restart random sampling of international passengers for Covid-19 from today onwards.

The government’s decision to re-introduce the Covid-19 testing-related measures at airports comes as a part of preventive measures being taken up as coronavirus cases surge globally, especially in China, the United States, South Korea, Brazil and Japan.

Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, apparently the strain driving China’s current surge of Covid cases, have been detected in India so far, officials said.

The first case of BF.7 in India was detected in October by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre. So far, two cases have been reported from Gujarat while one case has been reported from Odisha, they said.

On Wednesday Dr V K Paul, Member, Niti Aayog, said that only 27-28% of people have taken the precautionary dose against coronavirus infection. Stressing on the need to take the precautionary dose, Paul’s statements come in the wake of an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases globally, especially in China.

Dr Paul warned people to keep wearing masks if they are in crowded spaces. “Use a mask if you are in a crowded space, indoors or outdoors. This is all the more important for people with comorbidities or are of higher age” he said.

India’s Covid-19 tally climbed to 4,46,76,330 on December 21, with 131 fresh infections, while the number of active cases came down to 3,408, according to Union health ministry data.

The toll due to the viral disease increased to 5,30,680 with three more fatalities, including two deaths reconciled by Kerala and one reported from West Bengal in the last 24 hours, the data stated.

Source: Agencies India COVID19 Testing Airport India COVID19 Testing Airport